OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
121 
by hackmetack and arbor-vitae busbes that 
hung over it. Well, we hatched our young 
ones and got them about half grown, when 
my neighbors were discovered by a pair of 
Canada Jays that lived a short distance from 
us ; and, if you will believe me, the wretches, 
in one day, killed and ate the young birds in 
all four of the nests of my friends*. Ah ! 
’twas a sad day, and never shall I forget it. 
But the wicked act was not long to be una- 
venged ; for, even while the Jays were carry- 
ing off the last of their victims, a naturalist, 
who was stopping at Mr. Wilson’s, came along, 
and hearing our outcries, hurried to us, and 
saw at once what had happened ; for he had 
noticed before that our little colony, and was 
interested in its success. In an instant, he 
fired at the pirates, and they dropped dead 
among us. Yes: the Jays and Shrikes are 
wicked wretches, and we ought to take some 
action against them.” 
By the way, speaking of the Shrikes,” 
said one of the Pine Pinches, I never could 
understand one of their liabits, — that of hang- 
